A disqualified driver who fled the scene of a fatal collision in Bradford, has had his sentence increased by the Court of Appeal following a referral by the Solicitor General, Alex Chalk QC MP.
Christopher Windle, 21, was involved in a fatal crash on 10 September 2019, while driving a vehicle whilst disqualified. Windle was speeding when he crashed into another vehicle, killing his passenger Stephen Tordoff and injuring three other passengers. Windle then fled the scene, and it wasn't until a few days later that he turned himself into the police.
Windle was convicted of two counts of dangerous driving, causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by driving whilst disqualified and causing death by driving while uninsured.
On 17 September 2021, Windle was sentenced to 4 years and 9 months' imprisonment at Bradford Crown Court.
Following the hearing, the Solicitor General, Alex Chalk QC MP, referred Windle's sentence to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme.
On 23 February 2022 the Court of Appeal found his original sentence to be unduly lenient and increased it to 6 years and 2 months' imprisonment.
Speaking after the hearing, the Solicitor General, Alex Chalk QC MP said:
Windle's irresponsible actions ended a young life and endangered others. The level of selfishness shown by his actions before, during and after the crash was astounding. I believed his sentence to be unduly lenient and I am glad that the Court of Appeal agreed today.
